Cancelled TV Shows That Could Make Great Movies

Dollhouse

Fox and Cancelled are two words that seem to appear together in a lot of sentences! Dollhouse was created by Joss Whedon and ran for just two seasons (I have only seen the first one so far). Centred around a secret underground establishment, the Dollhouses of the title. The Dollhouse contains people know as Actives who are programmed to take on temporary personalities and skills; wealthy clients hire these “dolls” to perform various tasks, their minds are then wiped. The episodes work as stand alone stories but have a thread running through them with an ongoing plot that develops most notably an “Active”, Echo (Eliza Dushku) is gradually becoming self aware despite her mind wiping. Given what Joss Whedon did with Firefly/Serenity a movie version would be unlikely but potentially awesome.

Cast

Eliza Dushku – Echo

Will it be made?Doubtful

Jericho

Telling the story of the inhabitants of Jericho, a small town in rural Kansas and how they survive after America has been decimated by nuclear attacks on 23 major cities. The show was cancelled after just two seasons with what remains of the united states forming alliances that could result in a second civil war. There is perfect source material for a movie as the series was followed by a six-part comic book series.

Cast

As many of the original cast as the plot will allow most notably:

Skeet Ulrich – Jake Green

Lennie James – Robert Hawkins

Will it be made?there have been rumours

Drive

A diverse group of people are invited/coerced into an illegal car race across America with the promise of $32million prize money. In the background there are darker more sinister things going on with the race organisers and sponsors. Despite a great cast, some good action and an interesting premise the show sadly bombed and fox cancelled it with only six episodes and an unaired pilot in existence. The cancellation of the show could be worked into a movie version, the story would be along the lines that the race was cancelled around the time the show was cancelled but a new race is now underway with key members of the original cast returning.

Cast

The original cast including:

Nathan Fillion – Alex Tully

Amy Acker – Kathryn Tully

Emma Stone – Violet Trimble

Kristin Lehman – Corinna Wiles

Will it be made?Unfortunately not

24

Its not a new idea, a film adaptation of 24 was originally talked about in the hiatus between series six and seven. A script was written and rejected last year leaving the movie in limbo. To keep the real-time concept of the show but condense it into a two hour movie needs a device to make it work. In this case it is a simple device, set the movie in a confined space such as a single building, i.e. Jack Baur does Die Hard. It has been rumoured that Tony Scott is going to pitch his idea, a Tony Scott version of 24 is a movie I would like to see.

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland – Jack Bauer

Will it be made?Probably, eventually

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

To go full circle and base a movie on a TV show that was based on a movie would be a brave decision but one that could really work. Following on from Terminator 2: Judgment Day but taking a different time line and reality to Rise of the Machines and Salvation the premise of the show lets it live alongside the movie franchise. The plot possibilities are endless but I would like to see Shirley Manson’s Catherine Weaver, a T-1001 (similar to the T-1000 from Terminator 2) with an ambiguous agenda. The only issue I had with the original show was that given the name of the show I would like to see more Sarah Connor and less John Connor.

I had Deadwood on the list, I love that show but took it off as I don’t see it working as a movie. I like the number of characters and multiple plotlines of the show that run throughout the season. Condense that into a movie and it could lose something. I have never seen Arrested Development, I haven’t seen Carnival yet but have it on my DVD rental list so will get to it one day.

A 24 film not set in real time would be fantastic to watch. The last season was like watching your pet die of old age. Imagine Jack trotting the globe like Ethan Hunt and co.

Arrested Development would be fantastic but because Bateman, Arnett, Cera, Cross and so many of the cast are all doing different things these days I can’t see them ever all being free again for another 20 years.